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You Can Now Buy A Fifth-Gen Camaro ZL1 For Less Than $30,000

The 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 had a base MSRP of $54,095, or about $8,000 less than the starting price of the current model. So when the sixth-gen ZL1 was announced, some figured that the fifth-gen ZL1 would become a bargain purchase… and it looks like that’s exactly what happened.

In fact, prices on second-hand fifth-gen models have fallen so low that you can snag a mildly used fifth-gen ZL1 for less than $30,000. We came across this yellow one equipped with a manual transmission and just over 35,000 miles on AutoTrader for $29,790. If you fancy a convertible with an automatic instead, there’s this red ‘vert on Cars.com that is even cheaper. Naturally, a fifth-gen will less miles on the clock typically go for thousand more, like this sinister-looking black one – a 2013 Camaro ZL1 Coupe with a manual gearbox and 12,352 miles going for $35,799.

2014 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe 13

That’s certainly something to consider if you’re in the market for a sixth-gen Camaro 1SS, which for the 2016-2018 model years has a starting MSRP in the $37,000-$38,000 range (before any rebates). If you’re not looking for the most nimble of chassis and don’t care about the updated looks or interior of the sixth-gen, then perhaps going for a lightly used Gen 5 ZL1 would be money well spent.

What are your thoughts on the used Camaro ZL1 market? Do you see it as getting a sweet ride while also saving a pretty penny, or overpaying for an outdated model? Speak to us in the comment section below.

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Comments

  1. Yeah, ONLY, if ALL the upgrades to current status/capabilities is worth the $$$$ and time. If not…., yeaah, maybe not so much. IMHO, $8K is not enough of a discount vs what you get with a brand new Gen 6 2018. Corvette maybe?? Hmmm………..

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  2. While the 5th-Gen ZL-1 was a lot of car, it is not a 6th-Gen car, and that is a big difference in my book.

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  3. Three mods and a 6th gen will never touch. Smaller pulley, E85, Tune ($500 total) and your knocking on 700hp be hell cat and Z06 killer territory.

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  4. The only problem I have with buying an older used ZL1 with 30,000+ miles on it is worrying about how the previous owner drove it and maintained it. You could really be opening the door for some financial hurt 3-5 years down the road if the previous owner was a complete tool with the car. And let’s face it, a lot of brand new performance cars that make it to the used lot are bought by tools who do not care about the vehicle, only about the image it portrays.

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    1. you can go to your local chevy dealer with the VIN and he can pull up all the service records done at a chevy dealer

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    2. Abuse is always a consideration, especially with a manual transmission car. I would be more at ease on that issue with and automatic car, but I would never buy one so off to the order books.

      Today’s cars are pretty hard to abuse with all the nannies and rev limiters. Its not like a 67′ Goat that could be trashed in a few weeks or crashed in less the a day.

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  5. What you fail to mention is that the “Red Vert” for under 30k has a Branded/Buyback/Lemon Title!!!! This will certainly affect the value of any car, not just the one you decide to write an inaccurate article about!!!

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    1. So, the condition of a single example invalidates all three? I don’t see the logic there.

      As for your accusatory tone:
      1) I provided links to the ads so that readers could have a look for themselves
      2) I have nothing to gain from these cars being sold

      Furthermore, if the car is a lemon because the previous owner had a door-handle fixed 3-times then it still might be a bargain buy for someone who doesn’t give a hoot about such things. This is especially true if you’re not going to resell the vehicle.

      I enjoy engaging with readers, but I prefer to do so in a manner that’s constructive. There’s no need to be so angry, Brian.

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      1. Not angry, sounds like you are for me pointing out your inaccuracy of the article. Do your research, instead of YOU using only the three lowest priced highest mile examples you can find. I have owned 4 5th gen ZL1’s, currently one a 2013 Convertible, a 2013 COPO Camaro and three others, along with various other collector cars. We could be going in two different directions here, but a clean low mile car is always going to “bring the money” above any 60k miles, bad carfax car. As far as someone “Not caring” about that, I am sure there are many people out there that might not, but personally, I would never buy a bad carfax car, regardless of the reason.

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      2. Oh, and to further validate my point, the Yellow one you have listed is a Buyback/Lemon, PLUS an accident reported on the carfax. Just proving my point, anything can be had as cheap as you want as long as you are willing to make additional concessions in condition and history. I highly doubt it was a “Doorhandle” issue… And, the third one you listed, which is a low mile example, does not fall under your “Under $30,000” at $36,000.

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  6. I used the word ‘angry ‘because it seems your making a lot of assumptions here without a logical backing but moreso an emotional one. And you seem really excited, just look at all of those ‘!!!!!’ !

    Your doubt isn’t routed in facts, it’s a result of you wanting to prove something. For instance, these aren’t the highest-mileage 5th gen ZL1s on Cars.com. Nor do you know the actual reason for the buy-back. To qualify as a buy-back, an issue has to occur repeatedly after being addressed, three times to be exact. That issue can be just about anything.

    What is it exactly that’s inaccurate? Is it incorrect to say that one can purchase a used 5th-gen for less than $30,000? That you might not think this is a good purchase is irrelevant.

    “What are your thoughts on the used Camaro ZL1 market? Do you see it as getting a sweet ride while also saving a pretty penny, or overpaying for an outdated model? Speak to us in the comment section below.”
    I posed a question, so I’m not sure what it is you’re trying to “prove”. If you’re suggesting that your subjective perspective is the one and only perspective to have, then you may be fighting a pointless battle against a keyboard.

    “anything can be had as cheap as you want as long as you are willing to make additional concessions in condition and history.” – if that’s your point, well then I disagree. If this were true then I could go buy the ‘cheapest’ road-legal C7 Z06 for much less than $50K. But I can’t, because no such listings exist. In time, sure. But right now, no.

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    1. Condition is everything , misrepresenting fact with variables out of context that would naturally diminish collectibility, reliability, and long term value should have been noted and expressed to make your article valid. Your article made generalizations of the model’s value as a whole. I’ve seen Zl1’s with salvage title, total loss, and theft recovery that were stripped clean selling for less than $15,000. To make a generalization that you can buy a ZL1 for less than 15k would be misleading. That’s what you have done my friend. Today’s date is 10/06/20. Go on cargurus and see how many can be found for under $30k , please note to anyone reading this, my response is being written 3 years after this article has been written. Poorly written news is a waste of everyone’s time

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  7. In England I have a 5th Gen ZL1 its so rate here, its been valued more than I bought it for circa £45k. In this world its about supply and demand. at a Supercar event with so many Lambo’s, Ferrari’s and Mustang it got so much attention.

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  8. interesting when these comments were posted, since then the 5th ZL1 outsold the 6th Gen and Chevy have not done particularly well since the release of the 6th Gen. Here in the UK, there are so many mods to be had, and luckily for me the 5th ZL1 is a rare asset, of which I am happy to keep refining and enhancing. The UK doesn’t always take kindly to upgrades, unlike the US, however I never purchased the 5th Gen ZL1 originally as an investment, more like project. Long live the 5th Gen ZL!.

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  9. Picked up 5th gen ZL1 w 22,000 miles on it in great condition in 2023 and love it! About $39,000. Great vehicle and hard to get low mileage deal 10 yrs later.

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